Block-party fee gets rethinking

The Easter Bunny leads a parade during an Easter block party in 2004 in the Villa Pacifica development in San Clemente. PAUL BERSEBACH, REGISTER FILE PHOTO

Planning to hold a block party in San Clemente? Did you know you need a city permit and that it costs you $100 plus liability insurance?

City Hall enacted the fee in 2009. Since then, the number of permits issued has nose-dived from when the permit was free, according to a city report.

So now the City Council will reconsider the fee at its meeting that begins at 6 p.m. Tuesday at City Hall, 100 Avenida Presidio. The public is invited.

The goal when the permit was introduced was to make it free so neighborhoods would apply for a permit rather than hold a block party without telling the city. Through the permit, the city can try to make sure the party won't cause traffic or safety problems.

In 2008, when the city commissioned a study to analyze the cost of providing services, it concluded that it cost the city $490 to administer each block-party permit, officials said. They said the city issued six permits in 2008, and at $100 a pop, the city could at least recoup some of its expenses.

But in this week's report to the City Council, staff says only three permits were issued in 2009 and just two so far this year.

The council will consider whether to adjust the fee. City staff surveyed other cities and decided to recommend that the $100 fee be left as is.

The survey found that San Juan Capistrano and Laguna Beach allow no street closures for block parties, while Dana Point charges $35 for a permit and requires a $1 million insurance policy that can cost $125 to $215, depending on the size of the group.

Rancho Santa Margarita requires, for events with more than 150 attendees, a special-event permit that costs $200 for nonprofits and $675 for private parties, with insurance and an encroachment permit as well, the survey found.

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